With Sun Shuttle, "even more than ever before, we are all
connected," Oro Valley Mayor Paul Loomis said during Monday's first
event at the Rancho Vistoso park and ride.

Sun Shuttle is operated by Sun Tran, the service of the Regional
Transportation Authority. Through May 31, fares on Sun Shuttle
buses are waived. After June 1, regular one-way fares are $1. The
service is free to passengers connecting with Sun Tran routes.
"Deviated service," accommodating people with disabilities at the
door within three-fourths of a mile of established routes, is
priced at $2.

"People can try it out, and see if it's going to work for them,"
said Marana Mayor Ed Honea, who chairs the RTA board of
directors.

"We're going to make it work," Carter said.

"We've got to make this thing work," Loomis said.

The Cortaro/Silverbell route in Marana has starts and stops at
Arizona Pavilions, and loops northwest. The Thornydale/Dove
Mountain route runs between the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain Resort
and Costco off Thornydale.

In Oro Valley, the North Oracle/Catalina route has stop and
start points at Ina and Oracle, and at the Golder Ranch commercial
center in Catalina. The Rancho Vistoso/La Cañada route travels both
of those major thoroughfares, effectively forming a figure-8 route
stretching from Lambert and La Canada to Rancho Vistoso and the
Vistoso Commerce Loop.

There are numerous stops, including RTA park and ride lots so
commuters can access larger Sun Tran buses for longer
transportation. Designated routes and stops are being served
Mondays through Saturdays. In designated safe areas along some of
the routes, people may flag down the shuttles if they want to be
picked up, a release said. Sun Shuttle routes are also being
established in Sahuarita and Green Valley.

"It's really nice to get into the communities around the urban
area, and have a way to get people into the system," said Honea.
"This is a big step forward in moving toward a regional seamless
transit system. People will be able to connect from one transit
system another and people will be able to link to such places as
shopping destinations, libraries or medical facilities."

Sun Shuttle is "yet another enhancement to our transportation
system," Loomis agreed. "This new service will provide Oro Valley
residents many more options in transit and we believe that this
service will be used regularly by many people."

He lauded RTA officials for "their foresight" in moving the
shuttle program up its priority list.

"It's important for businesses and residents," and offers the
prospect of reduced congestion and pollution as well as energy
savings. "Those are all direct benefits of having a truly
multi-modal system in place," Loomis said.

Shawn Strash, chief executive officer at Oro Valley Hospital,
said Sun Shuttle presents "a wonderful, exciting opportunity" for
patients and employees alike. Stops are planned at the hospital on
both the Rancho Vistoso/La Cañada and North Oracle/Catalina
routes.

Earlier this year, RTA launched commuter bus service from Rancho
Vistoso and other Oro Valley locations into downtown Tucson, and to
Raytheon and other major employers in the city's southern reaches.
"We're averaging 50 cars a day" at the new park and ride facility
in Rancho Vistoso, Loomis said.

RTA has set aside nearly $25 million within the RTA plan to fund
circulator service over the 20-year life of the plan. It has
contracted with MV Transportation to provide the circulator
service.

Routes and schedule information is now available at various
locations, as well as on Sun Tran's Web site, http://www.suntran.com">www.suntran.com.

Information is also available through a centralized customer
service information center, 792-9222.

RTA

The Regional Transportation Authority is the fiscal manager of
the $2.1 billion plan approved by Pima County voters on May 16,
2006. Its board is comprised of representatives from the local
jurisdictions in Pima County, including the cities of Tucson and
South Tucson, Pima County, the towns of Marana, Oro Valley and
Sahuarita, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O'odham Nation. A
representative of the Arizona State Transportation Board also
serves on the board.